3/30/2009 @ 5:15PM

The G-20: A City Survival Guide

London–Bankers here will face a rather treacherous commute to work this week, as well as some tough sartorial choices, as the G-20 summit kicks off Thursday at the Excel Center in East London. Expect tens of thousands of anti-capitalist protesters to pay the city’s financial center a visit.

It’s an ambitious bunch. The British Anarchist society is organizing a gathering of thousands in the Square Mile intending to “storm the banks.” The London Class War plans a quartet of processions headed by one of the “Four Horsefolk of the Apocalypse” (meet in front of the Bank of England at 12 p.m.). The group will be joined by G20 Meltdown, which plans to visit the Excel Centre to bang on doors. Some bankers and lawyers have told us they have no intention of being intimidated by all this or “dressing down,” as
JPMorgan Chase
has already warned its employees to do.

Blame Names. If confronted by protesters, be ready with a string of villainous phrases like “the establishment,” “Thatcher,” “tax dodgers” and “Bush.” This should confuse them and buy you precious seconds to flee.

The Big Guns. Can’t shake them? Point into the distance and tell them you see Michael Foot/Tony Benn/Jimmy Carter. Run.